Imagine a room filled with chatter – kids at a K12 STEAM camp eager to taste a snack, hundreds of undergrads in a packed lecture hall ready to test their knowledge, or professionals at a national conference buzzing with energy. Now picture that same spark igniting across all of those spaces – and even built directly into a brand-new interactive eBook. That’s the magic of Toni Gist, a passionate educator whose creativity bridges classrooms, camps, conferences, and now digital texts. Her secret weapon? Kahoot!.
Scene 1: Summer Camp Sparks Joy
At a recent STEAM summer camp for K–12 students, Toni kicked things off with a classic lesson hook: a “Nutrition Game Show”—a live Kahoot! game paired with real food tastings. The energy was immediate. As the iconic Kahoot! lobby music echoed, one camper turned to their friend and said, “You know it is going to be fun when you hear that music in the classroom.” Heads started bobbing, smiles spread, and in that moment, Kahoot! wasn’t just a game—it was a shared experience.
It was a clear reminder: whether you’re 8 or 20, that familiar quiz beat brings anticipation, joy, and connection.
Scene 2: Back to School—with Impact that Lasts
Switching scenes to the massive lecture halls of the University of Illinois, Toni continues to wield Kahoot! with flair. Teaching introductory nutrition and food processing courses to over 1,000 students each semester, her approach is deeply student-centered. When her students suggested gamifying the curriculum, Toni embraced it immediately – and later integrated Kahoot! quizzes directly into the Nutrition for U eBook she authored.
This innovation meant that students could practice and play outside the lecture hall, keeping the same sense of energy and connection in both live and self-paced formats. Whether clicking through the eBook at midnight or playing in class with hundreds of peers, the familiar Kahoot! countdown turned learning into something students looked forward to.
The impact rippled outward. Months later, one student emailed Toni:
“I was in your FSHN 120 class… I remember the Kahoot with healthy snacks—we tried flax seed crackers from Costco. I’m trying to balance what I eat at dining halls. Your class was one of the best I’ve ever taken… I loved how you catered activities to what we were learning and considered different cultures and learning styles… Even if I was super tired, I loved your class.”
That message wasn’t just gratitude – it was proof that a well-placed quiz and snack combo can land deeply, long past exam day.
